This book started off so good and I had such high hopes. About midbook, it turned erotica and dragged for chapters. It went much too far with the sexual content and language, and it lost me in the middle. I was disappointed.

Thank you to Netgalley and Forever for the ARC!

This was a fun ride. It’s been a minute since I read a “photographer and subject” romance and this was an interesting take on the trope. I enjoyed the grumpy sunshine dynamic, although I don’t think either protagonist fully embodied either side. The dogs were adorable!

Rating: 3.5 rounded up

I really wanted to love Finding Mr July. Based on the description and the authors who were listed as being similar i thought it would be an instant favorite but unfortunately it fell flat. My biggest issue with the book was that I found both the main characters unlikeable. I found Josh to be so back and forth in the start of the book that I just couldn't bring myself to like him later on. While I liked the idea of the fundraiser at the center again the main characters really made the book less enjoyable.

After a workplace meltdown, Holly found herself starting over. The transition from lawyer to environmental non-profit intern was not easy, but Holly was a frontrunner for the full-time position. She just had to win the fundraising challenge which would require the help of grumpy web designer Jonathan. What started as a business relationship turned into more as Holly and Jonathan raced against the clock to complete this challenge.

I am a big fan of comeback stories, and here, I got two. Both Holly and Jonathan had experienced career setbacks and had to pivot. Holly's end game was winning the full-time position with the firm which would take her to Scotland ensuring a fresh start. I could understand wanting to get some space from the people and places of her past, but it was easy to see her ambivalence grow with each photo shoot.

Holly had a total rom-com meet cute with Jonathan, but he was determined to keep her at arm's length. Though he was not interested in shooting a "hot guy" calendar, Jonathan agreed to assist after some "encouragement" from his boss. It was the shoots and planning sessions that were very revealing. Holly and Jonathan shared intimate details about themselves and bonded while working towards a common goal. Their interactions were fun and meaningful , and I loved watching their relationship take shape and grow.

Holly's situation with her ex was pretty bad, but my heart ached for all that Jonathan lost. I was sort of glad he was forced to help Holly with this project because it was the push he needed to pick up a camera again. Though these were not his typical subjects, he embraced the task and the sound of that shutter fed his creative need and his soul. Holly and this calendar were the shakeup he needed to reconnect with the things he loved and himself.

I also really enjoyed the photoshoots. Holly struggled to find many of her participants, but once she did, their sessions took me to some beautiful Pacific Northwest sites where dog and man froliced among nature. It was great getting out and about, and I truly adored each and every pup I met.

Overall, I had a fantastic time getting to know Jonathan and Holly, and it was a pleasure to see them both pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and start anew with lots of humor, pluck, and pups.

First and foremost, thank you to the publisher and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I loved this story and it was definitely worth the read! I absolutely loved this book!!!

My second book by Anna E. Collins and it did not disappoint. An enermies-to-friends-to-lovers trope I can get behind every day. Well written and an easy-to-follow story between two characters that didn't start off on the right foot. The supporting characters were just as important and played a roll in moving the story along. Of course, the HEA I was hoping for, but not before a little turmoil to work through.

(I received a complimentary ecopy of this book in exchangeforanhonestreview. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you Netgalley, Grand Central Publishing and Anna E. Collins)

I loved Finding Mr. July! The chemistry between Holly and Jonathan was great, and I loved both of their characters development. They felt like real people with real problems.
I also enjoyed the different scenery for each photo shoot. I could totally see these pictures in my mind and I think the author did a fabulous job describing everything.
This was an adorable story & quick read!

Finding Mr. July is a cute opposites-attract rom-com. I thought that the fireman calendar-inspired fundraiser was a unique idea and I loved all the puppies in it. I didn’t find the story particularly deep, but overall it was a fun, light-hearted read!

3.5 rounded up!

This was a sweet, puppy-filled rom-com with a fun plot and a touch of spice. I loved Jonathan—the grumpy, talented photographer with a soft side who slowly comes out of his shell thanks to Holly’s persistent (and occasionally chaotic) charm. Their chemistry was great, especially as they worked together on the calendar project that had me smiling throughout.

That said, Holly, as a character, aggravated me at times. While I admired her drive and creativity, there were moments when she came off as a bit self-centered, making it harder to fully root for her. I did enjoy watching her growth by the end, but I wish her development had been a little more balanced earlier on.

Still, if you enjoy a grump-sunshine pairing, some workplace hijinks, and—you guessed it—lots of adorable dogs, this one is worth picking up!

4.5 ⭐️’s rounded down

Finding Mr. July was such a fun read and I really enjoyed reading it! Holly and Jonathan were great characters with lots of depth and it really made me want to root for them. I also loved the competition, how it was handled, and how it incorporated so many dogs. It was such a swoony summer read and I definitely would recommend reading it!

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Finding Mr. July releases on July 1, 2025.

Finding Mr. July begins with Holly King who is an intern, looking to get a promotion and get the job she’s been working hard for. All that stands in her way is a competition between the other interns, which is all about fundraising. At first, Holly is drawing a blank until she decides to think outside of the box.

She decides to make a calendar featuring hot men and their dogs. Sounds like a great plan to me, but the only thing standing in her way? It’s Jonathan Summers. He’s the work grump and starts to refuse to help her. Eventually, he is pursued by their boss, and from there, the attraction only becomes even more intense as he goes with her to photograph the men and their dogs.

Since we’re all about the dogs here, I just have to say that I adored seeing all the men and their different dogs. It’s clear Anna E. Collins loves her dogs as she puts so much love and care into making sure the dogs get as much love as these guys. Additionally, it was great to see Jonathan get a dog as it made him less grumpy which is something we’re all suckers for.

Seeing the way Holly meets these men and the lengths she goes to for this project was hilarious. It was fun to see how these guys reacted when they learned Holly’s true motives. While some were less than thrilled, others were happy to jump on board. I feel like that’s such a realistic part of this story and I think if you’re a dog lover, then you’re going to adore this romance. Plus it’s coming out in July and the title is Finding Mr. July so what’s not to like?

3.5-3.75stars. Thank you Forever for providing an E-arc via NetGalley.

This feels more like a slice of life novel where the romance is not necessarily the main focus. The author writes compelling backstories for the characters and includes a flushed out cast of characters. Exploring the family dynamics at play for both Holly and Jonathan. Although I think they could have been flushed out more. I think some aspects were glossed over. The professional backdrop and plot provides the conflict.

I think there were so many aspects to enjoy but something was missing for me. I struggled to finish this book quickly often falling asleep fairly quickly when I would pick it up at night. So maybe it’s the pacing I struggled with.

It’s an enjoyable read and a good fit for readers who enjoy Sarah Adams or Elena Armas. There are open door scenes.

2.5 stars rounded down because a 3 star rating is a like/enjoyed.

It pains me to give a low rating for this book because I adored Worst in Show. Unfortunately, despite a good premise ended up skimming over lots of sections because I just couldn’t get into it. I finally gave up by about 70% (though I through each remaining chapter to speed read it until the final chapter and epilogue). There’s a lot of elements in this book that are great (why I gave it an extra half star). I liked Holly’s relationship with her brother Jude and niece Ava. I also appreciated that Holly’s journey is about starting over at 34 after her law career was sabotaged her shitty ex-boyfriend which mirrored Jonathon journey with his previous career. Plus, puppies?

But the execution just didn’t work for me. I felt there was weak plot and character development. I understand being burnt by the law after her bad experience and Rachel threw her a lifeline with the unpaid internship as a stepping stone. But I never really got that Holly was into the new job other than being able to run away from Seattle.

Plus the fundraising competition for unpaid interns to win a paid position as a vague ‘program liaision’ (which didn’t sound like fundraising was part of the duties) was exploitative and really annoyed me. Her idea was also a shirtless calendar featuring domestic animals for a conversation organisation? It was just so far off the mark and very cringy, including how she was trying to attract models via a dating app.

And while I appreciate Holly realises she was judgmental about Jonathon, I still didn't appreciate the way she went behind his back to force him to work on her project. Then she reverted to being immature over his refusal to model to fix her mistake over the permission form. I also hated the side plot with Jude and Ava possibly moving (though I laughed at Rachel calling Texas Gilead). Rachel also got annoying with her constantly salivating over Holly’s brother Jude. Secondary characters can just serve to be secondary (and that resolution of that made me roll my eyes).

Overall, a disappointment. That said, I liked Worst in Show and so I’ll give this author another shot.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for inviting me to read this book. This was a very nice comfort read. I do enjoy these kinds of books for being a palate cleanser between other more serious books. This was a well written book and I actually enjoyed this one more than the author's previous book. The whole idea of hot men with dogs was a great idea. Of course the story is a little cliched and obvious of where the plot is going and how it's going to end, but that's why I read these. The main characters were good, but I loved the secondary characters more. Solid 4 stars.

I’m a total sucker for a romance that involves dogs! They are always so cute! I loved the premise and thought a calendar with hot men and cute dogs would make for a great rom-com. I found Holly’s hunt for men for the calendar to be entertaining and made for some funny moments throughout the book! Obviously, the only man who really matters is the one who ends up being Mr. July!

The FMC, Holly, was a difficult character to love. She’s a bit juvenile and often lets her emotions get the best of her. It’s surprising since she is supposed to be a former attorney. Also, the opening scene with her is a bit over the top!

The MMC, Johnathon, was oddly grumpy, but started to grow on me as the story progressed. He adopted a senior dog and I thought it was so sweet! I love when an older dog finds a good home. Plus it made for the perfect lead up to being in the calendar!

Holly and Johnathon were cute together. I do wish that Holly had been a bit nicer to Johnathon, but they still had their cute moments and fun banter.

Overall, this is a cute romance that involves dogs, romance, and philanthropy.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an early copy.

The premise for Finding Mr. July definitely excited me! This did not entirely live up to what I was hoping for. I just couldn't get into the writing style with this one. I didn't connect with the MCs much at all. Overall, this just might not have been a book for me.

This book was adorable! I went into this blind so I was pleasantly surprised by the tropes and all the fun twists in the plot. Holly and Jonathan are super cute characters. I really enjoyed how lighthearted and easy this read was. I did find some of the characters and plot points lacked depth but it was a fun, quick, light read.

Romance + Dogs! yess! This was a very cute romance. Two people wanting to switch up careers + life paths and getting out of their comfort zone for each other. I enjoyed the story and banter. Spice was focused in just a couple scenes nothing too crazy. It reminded me of a Sarah Adams love story. I enjoyed both main characters. A great fast paced romance.

This man was down bad the moment he broke down a door to get her out of the utility closet!

I loved loved loved this book! Jonathan is a grump to everyone but Holly. He moves his schedule around to help her with her fundraising calendar to help her win a promotion that would cause her to move to Scotland. He always puts her first even if it means he might have to let her go….

What is not to love with this romantic comedy about a lawyer starting over, a brooding photographer who needs a fresh start, and an environmental nonprofit contest that leads them together in a photo shoot between men and their dogs. I love the internal conflict about career success over happiness and how our families are important, but we can’t allow ourselves to lose sight of who we are in the process. Love the workplace drama, strong foils, and women supporting women throughout it all. If you love a happy ending that involves dogs, workplace drama, and second chance happiness, this is your book!